Joy Keys chats with Able-bodied African American Pilot Leslie Irby

Leslie Irby is a trailblazer, innovator, speaker and avid traveler.

Irby hails from East Point, GA. As a 2012 graduate of Fort Valley State University, Leslie was at the starting point of life when she was involved in a car accident in 2013 where multiple fatalities occurred.  Becoming paralyzed, Leslie decided life was worth living, she gave new meaning to “The Phoenix Rises”.

Deciding to continue her education, In 2017, Leslie received her Masters in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. She has worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor for state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

During  a flight to France, Leslie had the epiphany to finish a Dream started more than 12 years ago: to become a pilot. Thanks to a program called Able Flight, after 7 long weeks of flying day and night at Purdue University, on June 28, 2019, Leslie accomplished her goal and became a licensed sport pilot. She is now historically known as the First African American Female with a disability to receive a pilot license.